April is Autism Awareness Month
Jacqueline Williams-Hines takes another leap into autism awareness and advocacy adding to her many hats that of radio show host. Launched in December 2015, NSV Online Radio is an autism awareness show featuring guests sharing their personal experiences with autism and the impact it has had on their lives. On W4WN Radio – The Women 4 Women Network – the #1 Ranked Women’s Internet Radio Station in the world, her show airs every Wednesday at 7 PM EST and can also be heard on iHeartRadio. Past shows have featured award winning director Charles Jones discussing his documentary, “Autistic Like Me; A Father’s Perspective,” multi-platinum and Grammy winning music producer Michael “Hot Mike” Bucholz who is also diagnosed on the spectrum, as well as world renown author John Elder Robison, author of ”Look Me In The Eye,” “Raising Cubby” and the recently released, “Switched On.”
Williams-Hines is the author of four autism awareness children’s books and educational discussion guide, founder of No Small Victories Autism Awareness Initiative, a behavior therapist by occupation and mother of a son diagnosed on the autism spectrum.
“I have been advocating for greater awareness of autism to promote earlier detection, diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for quite a while now. My work in the African-American community to combat diagnostic disparities with support from Mass Act Early is ongoing. However, becoming a talk radio show host, this opportunity I did not see coming. This has turned out to be a natural progression in my advocacy on a much broader scale,” Williams-Hines said. “I love talking with guests of all walks and professions, whether diagnosed or the parent or guardian of someone with the diagnosis. The experience has been incredible. I can personally say that had it not been for my son I may never have found something I am so passionate about.
“It is this passion I see resonated within my guest. Autism transcends racial, socioeconomic and geographical barriers. While different populations have found different levels of support – whether resulting from lack due to unavailable resources, access to resources, or lack of awareness of resources – families overall share universal concerns. Being able to use my radio show as a platform to educate, entertain and enlighten has been truly a blessing.”
Williams-Hines also shares that with current developments in online broadcasting she anticipates that her show will continue to grow its listening audience. Currently, the show is available to millions of listeners and growing. The current interest and reach of the show will lead to a greater awareness to the masses around the world.
“I want to continue to shed light on autism, and keep it in the forefront and I believe my radio show will do just that. Families are struggling with this diagnosis every day of the year, not just in April. With statistics of 1 in 68 and 1 in 42 boys nationally I have to keep this dialog going,” she added.
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